Sharing a short essay that arrived in my inbox today, courtesy of Dense Discovery — a newsletter about design, tech, sustainability and urbanism curated by Kai Brach, based in Melbourne, Australia.
Do we travel for transformation or validation?
It's always interesting to hear what thought leaders "outside" the travel industry have to say about the state of tourism, so I'm sharing Kai's article with his permission.
There's a few good points in this piece, including how touristic travel (e.g. mass tourism) can import more culture to a destination than it exports. I also agree that seeking validation on social media is drowning out good quality travel content.
There's some truth to Kai's point about escapism. Consider this: the biggest competitor to a travel agent is the electronics shop, where consumers can instead buy a new 50" flatscreen TV. In this scenario, which "escapism" is worse? Buying a new TV or booking a trip on a cruise ship? 😅
However, I don't believe that all trave...
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Hi everyone!
My name is Sophie, and I started Just Heading Out in 2017 to share travel tips and stories from my trips as I explored the world as a digital nomad. Since then, I've settled in Berlin (shout out to Travel Massive Berlin chapter!) and Just Heading Out has evolved into a platform to inspire and educate about responsible travel.
During my many, many, travels I've fallen even more in love with our beautiful planet and the amazing people that inhabit it. I still get butterflied every time I travel somewhere new, and I don't think that will ever stop. Natural and cultural diversity are our greatest resources, and I strongly believe in the power of sustainable tourism to protect and enhance this.
That's why I am an ambassador for Sustainable Travel International. They work with local communities, businesses, and travelers to improve tourism for everyone and encourage a climate shift in the industry.
Through my blog, I want to inspire people to step outside their comfort zone and expand their horizons. My aim is to teach them how to do that in an eco-friendly and budget-friendly way. I have experienced firsthand how empowering solo travel can be, especially as a woman, and I want to make it more accessible for others. I am also a member of Wanderful, an international community for women travel creators.
Thanks so much for sharing Sophie! Looking forward to checking out more of your content.
Thanks for sharing this site. It looks like there's a lot of great information